It’s good to see firms have found you can also make ultra-lightweight gaming mice with out poking a bunch of holes in them. Working example: the brand new HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2, which is a hole-free replace to the model’s ultra-lightweight honeycomb mouse (the Pulsefire Haste).
The Pulsefire Haste 2 is even lighter than its predecessor, weighing simply 53g (versus the unique Haste’s 59g). That’s extremely light-weight even by ultra-lightweight-mouse requirements — it’s lighter than all of the mice that presently occupy our checklist of greatest gaming mice.
However HyperX did extra than simply shave off a number of grams; the Haste 2 additionally options a number of inner upgrades, together with a greater sensor (HyperX 26K), higher switches, and as much as an 8,000 Hz polling charge. It’s accessible now in each black and white colorways, for $59.99 — $10 greater than the unique Haste, however nonetheless comparatively budget-friendly. Alongside the Pulsefire Haste 2, HyperX additionally dropped the Pulsefire Haste 2 Wi-fi, which is — you guessed it — wi-fi, with each 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity and as much as 100 hours of battery life. The Haste 2 Wi-fi is available in each black and white, prices $79.99, and weighs 61g — heavier than its wired counterpart, however nonetheless fairly light-weight general.
Design and Consolation of the Pulsefire Haste 2
The Pulsefire Haste 2 appears to be like loads like the unique Pulsefire Haste, minus the holes. Effectively, minus the seen holes on the highest of its shell. For those who flip the mouse over, you’ll be able to see the underside of the Haste 2 nonetheless has holes — they’re lined by a sticker, however they’re simply seen.
Anyway, the Haste 2 appears to be constructed on the identical normal body as its predecessor, with a faux-ambidextrous form (roughly symmetrical with straight sides, a low hump, and two thumb buttons on the left facet). It is available in black and white colorways — our overview unit was white. The mouse has a lightly-textured matte-finish case, shiny accents, and one RGB zone (beneath the scroll wheel). HyperX’s “X” brand is printed on the mouse’s palm relaxation in darkish silver. There’s additionally a small HyperX brand printed on the left facet of the mouse — I think it is a remnant of the unique Haste design, which had a palm relaxation stuffed with holes, as a result of this looks as if an excessive amount of branding for a stripped-down mouse.
Picture 1 of 2
The mouse has no additional texturing for grip on the edges, but it surely’s not a very massive mouse — it measures 4.89 inches (124.6mm) lengthy by 2.63 inches (66.8mm) huge, and its hump is 1.5 inches (38.2mm) tall at its highest level. It’s additionally extraordinarily light-weight: HyperX lists its weight at 1.87 ounces (53g), which appears correct — my overview unit weighed in nearer to 1.9 ounces (54g), however there’s some leeway because it’s troublesome to weigh a wired mouse with out its cable.
Picture 1 of 3
The Haste 2 is sufficiently small and lightweight sufficient that it shouldn’t be too troublesome to choose up and transfer, therefore the dearth of texture. However this doesn’t imply it may well’t get slippery, particularly in case your fingers get sweaty whereas gaming. However don’t fear, HyperX has you lined. The corporate consists of 4 items of textured, black pre-cut grip tape with the Haste 2.
Putting in the grip tape on the Haste 2 was just a little trickier than I anticipated — I had no issues putting in grip tape on the Razer DeathAdder V3 Professional or the Asus ROG Harpe Ace Intention Lab Version, however the Haste 2’s grip tape wasn’t lower fairly as completely, and I ended up having to take away and reinstall every bit a number of instances. This was fairly simple to do (fortunately), however, as you’ll be able to see from the photographs, it nonetheless doesn’t match the mouse fairly in addition to it ought to. However that is additionally in all probability extra obvious on the white model of the Haste 2, because the grip tape is black.
Picture 1 of 2
You’ll additionally discover an additional set of PTFE skates within the Haste 2’s field. The underside of the mouse options 5 PTFE skates — two on the high, two on the backside, and one across the mouse’s optical sensor within the heart. This can be a wired mouse, and it has a non-detachable 6-foot (1.8m) USB-A cable. The cable, which HyperX calls “HyperFlex 2,” is a wonderful mouse cable — it’s light-weight, versatile and it has nearly no reminiscence, so it’s virtually unnoticeable while you’re utilizing the mouse.
Efficiency of the Pulsefire Haste 2
The Pulsefire Haste 2 might not look that completely different from the unique Haste when you get previous the hole-free design, but it surely’s additionally been upgraded on the within. The Haste 2 contains a new sensor — HyperX’s personal 26K sensor, which has a most sensitivity of 26,000 DPI, a most velocity of 650 IPS, and may deal with as much as 50 G’s of acceleration.
Picture 1 of 3
It additionally has new mechanical switches, additionally made by HyperX, that are rated for as much as 100 million clicks. The switches are very agency — barely too agency for my desire. I didn’t have any points with double-clicks or mis-clicking, however there have been a few instances when my clicks didn’t register as a result of I wasn’t utilizing sufficient drive. This solely occurred at first, although — all of my clicks registered as soon as I obtained used to the mouse.
I’m not an enormous fan of the Haste 2’s inconsistent feeling typically. The principle left/proper switches are agency, clicky, and mechanical, whereas the thumb buttons are pretty light-weight — and the scroll wheel click on is even lighter and feels just a little mushy (the scroll wheel itself is notched and has a gummy-feeling scroll). The DPI swap really has a reasonably good click on, however, like all topside DPI switches, it’s simply inconvenient sufficient that I can’t see myself utilizing it for something actual.
The Haste 2 is an ultra-lightweight mouse with six buttons and a polling charge that may be cranked as much as 8,000 Hz — it’s made for players who prioritize velocity above every little thing (and precision, just a little). I examined the Haste 2 throughout a wide range of video games, however as a result of it’s best-suited for first-person and team-based shooters, I targeted on Overwatch 2 and Halo Infinite. The Haste 2 carried out properly as an ultra-lightweight FPS mouse, however I used to be mildly aggravated by how arduous I needed to click on. It’s best for anybody who needs one thing speedy and lighter-than-air, and its pseudo-ambidextrous profile makes it higher for fingertip and claw grips (in contrast to the extra ergonomically-rounded DeathAdder V3 Professional).
Options and Software program of the Pulsefire Haste 2
The Pulsefire Haste 2 works with HyperX’s NGENUITY peripheral software program. The mouse has a local DPI swap but it surely doesn’t have a profile swap. The mouse solely has one onboard profile, so it’ll bear in mind your programmed settings while you shut down the software program or plug the mouse into a brand new gadget, however you’ll be able to’t arrange a number of profiles (which is just a little disappointing, even when it’s a function I nearly by no means use). Fortunately, this makes programming the mouse fairly easy, even when NGENUITY is, like all peripheral software program, unusually unintuitive.
You should utilize NGENUITY to program the mouse’s buttons, alter sensor settings (change DPI ranges, alter polling charge, tweak lift-off distance), and customise the mouse’s RGB lighting. Button programming is pretty easy, although considerably restricted. The left and proper mouse buttons can solely be assigned proper/left click on performance (although you’ll be able to swap them). The thumb buttons, DPI swap, and scroll wheel button might be assigned mouse and keyboard features, multimedia controls, Home windows shortcuts, or customized macros (there’s a built-in macro recorder).
You may also alter a number of the Haste 2’s sensor settings. The mouse comes with 4 preset DPI ranges — 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 — which you’ll be able to toggle by way of utilizing the DPI swap. In NGENUITY, you’ll be able to take away ranges, add ranges (most: 5), and tweak ranges, relying on desire. You may also change the mouse’s polling charge and set its lift-off distance (properly, you’ll be able to decide between “excessive” — 2mm — and “low” — 1mm).
The Haste 2’s polling charges go as much as 8,000 Hz, which is one thing you’ve in all probability seen on some gaming mice and keyboards, however not all (and even most). Polling charge measures how typically a tool sends info to the PC — for mice, it’s how typically the mouse refreshes its place on the display. That is essential for gaming, as larger polling charges cut back latency (to some extent). A mouse with a polling charge of 125 Hz updates its place 125 instances per second, or each 8 milliseconds. A mouse with a polling charge of 1,000 Hz updates its place 1,000 instances per second, or each millisecond, which is noticeably quicker than each 8 milliseconds.
When you get previous 1,000 Hz, the velocity positive aspects turn out to be much less noticeable — a lot much less noticeable. A mouse with a polling charge of 4,000 Hz updates its place 4,000 instances per second, or each 0.25 milliseconds, whereas a mouse with a polling charge of 8,000 Hz updates its place 8,000 instances per second, or each 0.125 milliseconds. Whereas it’s true that updating each 0.125 milliseconds is objectively quicker than updating each 0.25 milliseconds, we’re speaking a few time delay distinction of one-eighth of a millisecond. Additionally, larger polling charges put extra pressure in your CPU — and in case you aren’t operating a recent-generation Core i7 or Ryzen 7 or larger, the additional stress in your CPU might trigger your recreation to run worse.
Backside Line
For those who’re searching for an ultra-lightweight gaming mouse, the Pulsefire Haste 2 is simply 1.87oz/53g — impressively light-weight, and it gained’t set off your trypophobia. The Haste 2’s upgraded sensor, included grip tape, and help for ultra-high polling charges make it an honest improve over the unique Hast. However on the finish of the day, it’s nonetheless extra of a funds decide. It’s not significantly ergonomic, which might be higher for fingertip and claw grips, and it lacks a number of the extra superior customization and refinement you’ll discover in additional premium merchandise.
Nevertheless it’s… positive. The Haste 2 is ok — it’s a strong ultra-lightweight gaming mouse with a versatile, drag-free cable, and a budget-friendly beginning worth (which is lower than half the worth of premium ultra-lightweight gaming mice, such because the Razer DeathAdder V3 Professional or the Asus ROG Harpe Ace Intention Lab Version). It’s positive, however that’s it.